Salad Pan: Where to Eat, Prices & Opening Hours (Shiga)

Salad pan is a local filled roll created by Tsuruya Pan in Kinomoto, Nagahama. It is the signature product of the shop, founded in 1951, a koppepan bun filled with chopped pickled radish tossed in mayonnaise, an unexpected combination that has made it a soul food of Shiga residents.

Highlights

If the name salad makes you picture a vegetable salad, the appearance of pickled radish will surprise you. It originally used cabbage, but tradition says it was switched to pickled radish because the moisture made the bread soggy. The richness of mayonnaise, the crunchy texture of the radish, and its faint sourness match perfectly, a taste that becomes addictive after one bite.

Enjoying the Seasons

It keeps well and is useful year round for outings and drives. It is perfect for a picnic by Lake Biwa or a snack on a trip around the northern lake. Paired with cold milk or coffee milk, it takes on a somehow nostalgic flavor.

Access and Basic Information

It is sold widely at the main store in Kinomoto and at prefectural supermarkets such as Heiwado, souvenir shops, roadside stations, and service areas on the Hokuriku Expressway. The main store is within walking distance of JR Kinomoto Station. Kinomoto retains the air of a post town on the Hokkoku highway, so you can stop by along with a stroll.

Practical Travel Notes

• Made by Tsuruya Pan, founded in 1951, it can be bought widely at prefectural supermarkets and expressway service areas, as a guide.
• Being a filled bun, it is best eaten the same day. If buying in bulk, keep it cool.
• Around the main store in Kinomoto are the post town streetscape of the Hokkoku highway and sights such as Kinomoto Jizoin temple.
• Besides salad pan, some shops carry sister products such as sandwich types.

A Quick Tip

It is a popular item that can sell out. If you spot one, grab it without hesitation.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season: All year round. According to the official website, salad pan "goes on sale in the shop at around 10 a.m. every day", so it may not be lined up right after the shop opens.
• Main area where it is served: Kinomoto-cho, Nagahama City.
• Where to buy it: Tsuruya Pan Kinomoto Main Store (1105 Kinomoto, Kinomoto-cho, Nagahama City, 529-0425; tel. 0749-82-3162) / Open Monday to Saturday 8:00 to 18:00 and Sundays and public holidays 9:00 to 17:00. Open every day (occasional unscheduled closures).
• Access: 7 minutes on foot from Kinomoto Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line.
• Points to note: As it is a filled savoury bread, if you take it away it is safest to keep it cool and eat it before long.

*Opening hours and prices at individual shops vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Tsuruya Pan official website, "Kinomoto Main Store")

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism guidance for Shiga Prefecture and information published by each shop. Prices, menus and seasons may change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: Affordable, from around 200 yen each
• Where to eat it: Tsuruya Pan in Kinomoto-cho, Nagahama City, and some retailers within the prefecture
• Recommended time of day: During the day, as a snack or light meal
• Avoiding the crowds: It is popular and can sell out, so the morning is your best bet
• Enjoy it together with: The sandwich (with fish ham), Kinomoto Jizo, Mount Shizugatake and the scenery of the northern Lake Biwa area